Autism: Getting Started
- What is autism? We cover the basics from the definition and answer Frequently Asked Questions.
- Research shows that children with autism improve when given good-quality, intensive therapy at an early age.
- We tell the parents what kind of therapy will benefit their child, where to get therapy, and how to get it paid for.
The Three to Six-Month Follow-Up
- New therapy routines can have a big impact on family life.
- We meet with parents in three to six months after the first diagnosis to discuss whether their ABA agency is meeting their needs.
- We can discuss solutions to the work-family-therapy juggling act.
- Are you getting parent training from your ABA? If not, we can discuss additional ways to support your child at home and connect you to additional resources.
Regular Check-Ups
- Autism is a lifelong condition. The child’s needs change over time. What works for your child at age three is different from what he’ll need at age ten.
- We recommend talking with our parent specialists every six to twelve months.
- We can provide recommendations for swim programs, summer camps, speech therapy, physical therapy, and parent support groups.
- If the parent needs specialized help, we’ll make phone calls and research options for you.
Education Support
- A great education is vital to the success of our children. However, in busy schools, parents often must advocate for their children, a task that is made more complicated by lingo and laws. We provide several support packages for parents.
- Special Education Basics. In a one-hour session, we introduce parents to basic terms in special education, explain their role as part of a child study team, and explain their basic rights.
- IEP Review. Is your child’s IEP constructed in a way to ensure that they are making meaningful and measurable progress? In a one-hour session, we’ll read your child’s IEP and discuss ways that this important document can be improved. We will explain how you can advocate for your child to improve their goals and get the right services.
- Advocacy. Sometimes parents need additional help in getting results for their children. Our advocates can review documentation, make recommendations for additional evaluations, draft documents, accompany parents to IEP meetings, recommend alternative school placements, and help parents get positive results.
Transition Support
- Preparing for life after high school is a big job. Our parent specialists can chunk those tasks into manageable tasks over time. Preparations should begin when the child is in the 8th grade.
- Our parent specialists can help you formulate long-term goals, connect you with legal and financial specialists, understand the steps towards gaining disability support, and explain the DDD system in New Jersey.
- SSI and DDD Applications – You can work with a specialist for two to three hours to craft the applications that will help you gain the right government support for your child.
- Transition Program Search – Some students need specialized transition programs after high school. Our advocates will discuss public school and private transition programs.
- College Program Guidance – College can be a great option for some young people with autism. There are more options than ever before. Our college specialists will help narrow down a list of colleges that can support the needs of their child, discuss alternative pathways, and how to build up the soft skills that are necessary to thrive in a college environment.